Food sold in vending machines in Kentucky should not be subject to the state sales tax, so says the Kentucky Automatic Merchandising Council. Ron White is president of the industry trade group.
White says bakery items like bread, rolls, donuts and tortillas are exempt from the sales tax if purchased in a store. However, he says, Kentucky has been taxing those items when the sale is from a vending machine since 1972.
White says back then there was no way of distinguishing between the products purchased from a machine but that’s no longer the case.
White says owners believe continuing to impose the sales tax on food bought from their vending machines is unfair. He says if the tax is lifted, the money automatic venders save would be reinvested in their businesses.
White says granting the sales tax exemption would cost Kentucky two-point-eight million dollars in revenue.
